John woke up in the middle of chaos.
The police station's roof was gone. The walls reduced to smoking rubble, and the air reeked of burnt concrete… and flesh. His body throbbed, but not with pain — it was power. Something new coursed through him, something alive and burning.
He sat up, gasping. The world around him was clearer than ever. His lungs took in air without strain. For the first time in his life, he felt whole.
"My mana channels…" he whispered. "They… healed?"
He looked at his hands — a faint blue aura still shimmered around his fingers. He was cured. Or maybe… reborn.
But the feeling didn't last.
Among the debris, he saw them — the bodies of officers crushed by beams, burned, or broken. A cold shiver ran down his spine.
— Was it me? — he murmured, trembling. — Did I do this...? I… I killed them all?
His chest tightened.
— Mom… I have to check on Mom!
Without wasting another second, he grabbed the keys from one of the fallen officers and ran outside.
The neighborhood was in flames. Screams echoed in the distance, people looted stores, others fought in the streets like wild animals. The world was unraveling — and so was he.
Ignoring it all, John sped toward his home.
As he neared his street, his heart dropped.
The officer's car was parked in front of the house… the door open. The officer's body lay on the ground, lifeless.
— No…
He stumbled out of the car and sprinted inside.
— Mom?!
He found her tied to a chair, gagged, eyes wide with fear. As he rushed to untie her, a sharp blow struck the back of his head. Everything went black.
When he awoke, John was in the same chair — bound, helpless.
— John! — his mother cried. — Are you okay?
— Mom...? What's going on?
Before she could answer, a voice cut through the room like a blade.
— I'd like to see how you plan on getting him out of this...
— Who are you?! — John growled.
A man stepped from the shadows, his smile cold and cruel.
— Looks like your mother never told you... I'm your father.
John froze.
— No... You're lying! My father is dead!
— Joseph, stop! — his mother shouted.
— Dead? — the man chuckled. — You never told him, did you?
— Mom…? You said he was gone...
— John, you have to believe me. Don't listen to him!
— She took you from me — the man said. — Stole you away. But now… I've found you.
He leaned closer.
— Tell me, son… How strong are you now?
— Strong? If you were really my father, you'd know... I was born with defective mana channels.
The man's face twisted in fury.
— What?! No... You were the Chosen One! The savior of the clan! I invested everything in you!
— Savior? What are you talking about?
— It was her! — he snapped, pointing at John's mother. — You did this, didn't you, you witch?!
He pulled out a machete and pressed it to her neck.
— Stop! Don't touch her! — John screamed.
— She destroyed your future! She damaged your mana channels when you were a baby! She stole the clan's legacy!
— John... — his mother sobbed. — I did it because I love you...
Before she could finish, the machete slashed. Her head fell to the floor.
— NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
John's agony turned to rage. His body exploded with blue energy, the air crackling around him.
— YOU… KILLED MY MOTHER!
— Look at that power… — the man backed away, grinning. — So she lied. You are my son. Come with me. Let's rebuild the clan together!
— I...
John reached out instinctively — a surge of pure mana burst from his hand, and in a flash of blue light, his father's head was vaporized.
Silence.
Then — footsteps. Sirens. The front door burst open.
Police stormed the room, weapons drawn.
— DOWN! NOW!
John collapsed to his knees, trembling, soaked in blood and glowing faintly.
— Mom… — he whispered.